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Whether they’re going around the block or just up and down the driveway, all kids can benefit from a kick scooter. (And we do mean kick scooter; electric scooters, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, are only for those with a driver’s license.) David Jacobson at Fit Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides structured physical-activity programs for kids in underserved communities, says the best kids’ scooters help youngsters “build fitness skills, such as balance and hand-eye coordination, and when done vigorously, it provides a great cardio workout.”
In many ways scooters are the perfect first ride-on toy: The deck is low enough to make getting on and off easy, the handlebars provide stability for new riders, and three wheels (the most common style for little-kid scooters) make learning to balance and kick at the same time less daunting. And for parents without a garage or a lot of extra space, scooters — especially those that fold up — are very convenient. They even require less space to ride on, says Chris G. Koutures, a pediatric and sports-medicine specialist at ActiveKid in Anaheim, California. Scooters can be used in smaller, more confined spaces than bicycles, making them popular among city kids who use them to zip along the sidewalk. But they’re also a great complement to a bike or balance bike since, according to Kristin Ernest, assistant professor of pediatric sports medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital, the Woodlands, scooting trains the body “differently than a bike.”
After speaking with experts and parents, here are our picks for the best kids’ scooters for kids of all ages. The choices abound, but once you’ve selected a scooter, as with any wheeled activity, make sure you grab a helmet.
What we’re looking for
Smooth-gliding wheels
Not only is a scooter that glides smoothly over driveways and sidewalks more fun to ride, it’s a lot safer. The best scooters provide a stable ride across all kinds of surfaces, from recently poured concrete to park paths scattered with twigs and pebbles. To do that, the wheels should be made of a material that’s durable and strong enough to roll over debris without issue. In addition, you’ll want to think about wheel size: Small wheels make a scooter more agile and easier to handle, and large wheels provide more stability and speed. While wheel size varies, all of the scooters on this list have been recommended in part because of their smooth-gliding wheels.
Adjustable handlebars
Since kids are always growing, handlebars that can grow with them will keep you from having to buy a bigger scooter year after year. They’ll allow you to more easily pass down their scooter to a younger sibling or even share it with other kids. Look for a scooter that fits your child’s height at the lowest handlebar setting so they’ll have room to grow into the higher ones over time.
Wide, non-slip deck
Jacobson says that a grippy deck will give kids “more confidence and better safety,” which according to him means there’s a greater likelihood that kids will spend hours riding their scooter. Some scooters have grip tape like what you’d find on a skateboard, others have raised treads for better traction. Whatever the design, it should prevent riders from slipping if their feet are wet or if they jump on quickly. Sylvana Ward Durrett of children’s luxury retailer Maisonette considers a deck that’s wide enough for two feet an added benefit as it allows younger kids to be pulled by their grown-ups and helps new riders with balance.
Strong and lightweight frame
A scooter should be strong enough to safely carry its rider while enduring a fair amount of abuse, yet light enough for kids to carry it. The lighter the frame, the easier it will be for your child to move and maneuver. But weight is an important factor for parents who will inevitably end up schlepping the thing in and out of the car, up and down subway steps on the way to the park or outdoor birthday parties, or all the way home if a temperamental rider has a change of heart. Take a look at the material of a scooter’s frame. Both aluminum and carbon fiber are lightweight and strong, but carbon fiber is stronger. We’ve noted the material of each scooter’s frame below.
Three wheels vs. two wheels
When it comes to scooter readiness, your child’s age is less of a factor than their balance and agility: “A child who can stand on one foot, hop on one foot, and skip is probably ready,” Koutures says. First, determine if you want a two-wheeled scooter, or a three-wheeled scooter with two wheels in front (for stability) and one in back. Younger kids should start with a three-wheeled scooter. Readiness for a two-wheeled scooter tends to emerge around age 6.
For older kids, choosing between a two-wheeled scooter and a three-wheeled scooter is more about the type of rider they are and how they like to steer. Two-wheeled scooters require more balance and have a “twist-to-steer” mechanism that’s similar to the handlebars on a two-wheeled bike. Three-wheeled scooters have a “lean-to-steer” mechanism that’s kind of like being on a snowboard. Three-wheeled scooters are sturdy and stable but can’t turn as sharply as two-wheeled scooters. (Micro Kickboard, maker of many of the scooters recommended below, has a helpful guide for choosing between two and three wheels for your child.)
Foldability
While storing and carrying a scooter is typically easier than storing a bike by default, scooters that can be folded down when you’re not using them are extra-convenient. So if you have the choice we’d say go for the one that folds. That said, not every scooter is foldable, and other factors might make a non-foldable model better for your child.
Best three-wheel scooter for younger kids
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Raised logo on deck | Frame: Carbon fiber | Weight limit: 110 pounds | Product weight: 4.2 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No
Carrie Wren of Two Wheeling Tots recommends any scooter by Micro Kickboard because “their attention to detail, quality of design, and precision of build just can’t be beat,” she says. “No one really comes close, even though everyone tries to copy them.” All of our experts agree that Micro Kickboard scooters are strong and lightweight, glide really well across different types of terrain, and are easy for even beginners to steer. The handlebars are a cinch to adjust without tools, and there’s a foot brake on the back wheel that even very young kids can use with ease. Strategist writer Lauren Ro, who bought the Mini Deluxe in ice blue when her son was 3 years old, says, “It’s a stellar product and the most popular for a reason.” Her son is now 4, and the scooter remains in heavy rotation after a year of riding it. Ro says it still fits him well.
For a scooter that’s designed for kids between 2 and 5 years old, the mini has a surprisingly high weight limit of 110 pounds, making it very size inclusive and sturdy. (For context, the average 5-year-old weighs less than 50 pounds.) It has a two-year manufacturer’s warranty and all of its parts are replaceable, so it will last for years and is easy to hand down from sibling to sibling. Plus, if you’d like to trick out your kid’s scooter with accessories, the brand sells add-ons like bells, lights, a seat for stuffed animals, and handlebar streamers.
Best (less expensive) three-wheel scooter for younger kids
Handlebars: Four adjustable heights | Traction: Treaded deck | Frame: Polyamide and steel with aluminum T-bar | Weight limit: 44 pounds | Product weight: 5.1 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No, but the T-bar comes off and stores under the scooter
For kids just getting started scooting, the Oxelo B1 500 is a great option. It’s less expensive than most scooters and, according to Ernest, has “good control.” Designed to help kids find balance and learn to manage speed and steer, it’s sturdy and stable, and its adjustable handlebars mean it can accommodate kids up to three-foot-eleven (the brand recommends it for ages 2 to 5). It only comes in one color, but it does have motion-activated LED light-up wheels — a guaranteed kid-pleaser. And though it’s not technically a folding scooter, the T-bar can be removed with the push of a button, then attached to the bottom of the deck for portability.
Best three-wheel scooter for bigger kids
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Raised logo on deck | Frame: Carbon fiber | Weight limit: 110 pounds | Product weight: 5.5 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No
According to Koutures, you want to “get something that a kid can grow into.” The Micro Kickboard Maxi Deluxe fits that bill: A larger version of the Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe, it has many of the same features like a foot brake on the back wheel and superior steering, just scaled up for kids ages 5 to 12 years old. As with the Mini, the Maxi’s adjustable handlebars allow it to grow with your child; they can extend ten inches (to accommodate kids between 49 and 59 inches tall), and you can raise the T-bar to any height within that range (without using any tools). It has the same two-year warranty as the Mini, with replaceable parts to ensure it lasts through multiple kids.
Best (less expensive) three-wheel scooter for bigger kids
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Treaded deck | Frame: Aluminum | Weight limit: 110 pounds | Product weight: 4.7 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No
Danielle Parde from Fat Brain Toys likes this option for bigger kids, as a more affordable alternative to the Maxi Deluxe. It’s got a similar lean-to-steer, three-wheeled design, along with a sturdy aluminum frame, adjustable handlebars, back-wheel braking, and non-slip-grip handles and deck. It’s more lightweight than the Maxi Deluxe. The handlebars adjust from 28 to 32.5 inches above the deck to accommodate taller kids, and YBike recommends it for ages 5 and up.
Best two-wheeled kids’ scooter
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Grip taped deck | Frame: Metal | Weight limit: 220 pounds | Product weight: 5.9 pounds | Wheels: Two | Folding: Yes
Eli Gurock, CEO of baby and kids retailer Magic Beans, pointed us to the Micro Kickboard Sprite as a good option for kids who have the balance skills required for two-wheels — and whose parents want a scooter their kids can ride for a while. The Sprite is recommended for ages 6 and up with adjustable handlebars and a weight limit of 220 pounds — enough to accommodate teens and many adults. It’s one of the lightest two-wheeled scooters on the market, and its folding T-bar and collapsible handgrips make it extra-portable (and the brand sells a shoulder strap to make post-ride transport easier).
Gurock echoed other fans of Micro Kickboard in calling the brand “unmatched” when it comes to quality, sturdiness, and longevity, as did Vox Media senior engineering manager and father of two Ryan Freebern, whose 13-year-old son rides a Sprite to and from school on a regular basis. Strategist senior editor and mom of two Jen Trolio joined the chorus. Trolio’s 7-year-old daughter recently traded in her Mini Deluxe for a Sprite, and its smooth handling made for an easy transition from three wheels to two. For $10 more, there’s a version of the Sprite with light-up wheels too.
Best (less expensive) two-wheeled kids’ scooter
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Grip taped deck | Frame: Aluminum | Weight limit: 143 pounds | Product weight: 8 pounds | Wheels: Two | Folding: Yes
For a more affordable two-wheeled scooter, the Razor A3 is constructed of lightweight yet durable aluminum with adjustable handlebars that are especially useful during growth spurts, according to Koutures. As with the Sprite, the A3’s T-bar folds down toward the kickboard, but the handle grips are stationary, making it a little less compact. It weighs about two pounds more than the Sprite and has a lower weight limit of 143 pounds.
Best transitional kids’ scooter
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Raised logo on deck | Frame: Carbon fiber and aluminum | Weight limit: 44 pounds for the seat, 110 pounds for the scooter | Product weight: 4.2 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No
For the youngest kids, the scooter starts out as a balance-bike-esque seated scooter with an O-shaped handlebar and a seat that adjusts to two different heights. Then it can be transformed into a standing scooter with two different handlebar shapes. The fixed-height O-bar is easier for little hands to hold, and the adjustable T-bar turns the whole thing into a scooter that is almost identical to the Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe, one of our top overall picks above.
Trolio bought a Micro Mini 3in1 Deluxe when her younger daughter was less than 1 year old. It easily lasted through the next four years until Trolio handed it down to a young neighbor right before her daughter’s 5th birthday (the same daughter has since upgraded to the foldable Maxi Deluxe that appears in this guide). Even with the seat attached, the Mini 3in1 Deluxe is the lightest transitional scooter we’ve found, weighing about two pounds less than the Razor Rollie below. That may not seem like much, but in the world of an 18-month-old, it makes a big difference.
Best (less expensive) transitional kids’ scooter
Handlebars: Adjustable, removable seat | Traction: Raised logo on deck | Frame: Plastic | Weight limit: 44 pounds | Product weight: 6.4 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No
The Razor Rollie DLX comes recommended by Marissa Silva, editor-in-chief at the Toy Insider, who says its biggest selling point is that the seat can be removed easily when little kids are ready to stand up to ride. It shares this feature, as well as adjustable handlebars, with the Mini 3in1 above, but the Rollie’s price tag is less than half that of the Mini 3in1. The main trade-offs are that the Rollie is not as lightweight as the Mini3in1 and has a plastic frame (instead of a carbon-fiber and aluminum one) and a lower weight limit for riders. But it does have motion-activated rainbow LED lights on the front wheels and along the kickboard, which look extra-cool when riding at sunset.
Best transitional kids’ scooter you can push
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Treaded deck | Frame: Aluminum | Weight limit: 44 pounds for the seat, 110 pounds for the scooter | Product weight: 6.8 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No
Durrett loves the Globber Go-Up, which she sells in her shop, because it has three different configurations: It can be transformed from a push scooter to a seated scooter that’s similar to a balance bike to a traditional stand-up kick scooter — no tools required. It’s similar to both of the transitional scooters above, but in addition to allowing riders to scoot while seated or standing, you can attach the handlebar to the back of the seat to push your kid as they ride. Trolio says this feature is excellent for very young kids who want to be independent and are very interested in scooting but may still need assistance. The seat can adjust to two different heights, the handlebars can adjust to three, and the front wheels have motion-activated LED flashing lights.
Best basic scooter for toddlers
Handlebars: Non-adjustable curved | Traction: Treaded deck | Frame: Aluminum | Weight limit: 44 pounds | Product weight: 5.5 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: No
Parde calls the Ybike GLX Cruze “a perfect first scooter.” The wide rear wheel and grippy deck provide extra stability as your child leans to steer and turn. Though it isn’t adjustable, the curved handlebar gives kids more room to find their center of gravity. And the large rear foot brake is really easy to use too.
Best foldable three-wheel scooter for younger kids
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Raised logo on deck | Frame: Carbon fiber | Weight limit: 110 pounds | Product weight: 4.2 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: Yes
Designed almost exactly like the non-foldable Mini Deluxe, Micro Kickboard’s foldable version takes a single click to fold the T-bar down to the deck. The age range is the same, 2 to 5, but we think spending $20 on the foldable option is a smart investment if you have younger kids who tend to tire and ask you to carry their scooter for them. Being able to fold a scooter can be a game changer, especially if you also have a stroller with you or want to travel with it. Just like the non-foldable version, there is an adjustable T-bar that can grow with kids and an easy-to-use heel break on the back wheel.
Best foldable three-wheel scooter for bigger kids
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Raised logo on deck | Frame: Carbon fiber | Weight limit: 110 pounds | Product weight: 4.2 pounds | Wheels: Three | Folding: Yes
This scooter is nearly identical to our best-overall pick for older kids, the Micro Kickboard Maxi Deluxe, with two important upgrades: motion-activated light-up wheels and a folding handlebar for portability. Trolio, whose 5-year-old daughter recently graduated to the Maxi Deluxe from the Mini 3in1, says that you can technically fold the Maxi one-handed — put your foot on the deck, then pull up on the sliding mechanism at the bottom of the T-bar to unlock the bar and fold it down. She has found this function invaluable for taking her kids’ scooters on road trips or, as suburbanites like her often do, tossing them in the trunk for trips to a nearby skate park.
The Maxi Deluxe comes in several colors, has a 110-pound weight limit, and the handlebars adjust between 24 and 34 inches above the deck, meaning it can accommodate some kids all the way up to their teen years. (Micro Kickboard says it should work best for kids 5 to 12 years old.) Plus it has kid-pleasing light-up wheels, which Trolio’s daughter is obsessed with, and which are especially bright and noticeable when riding at dusk.
Best ultracompact scooter
Handlebars: Adjustable | Traction: Raised pattern on deck | Frame: Aluminum | Weight limit: 220 pounds | Product weight: 9.34 pounds | Wheels: Two | Folding: Yes
Scooters are great ways to offer older kids some independence, say, by letting them ride to school or to a friend’s house on their own. Mary Couzin, founder and CEO of People of Play, recommends this Valor model for its ultracompact construction — it can fold down small enough to fit in a backpack or locker (it’s about 16 by 6 by 4 inches when folded) once your child arrives at their destination. The scooter has a “quick-fold” option that is similar to the foldable Micro Kickboard, with the T-bar folding down to the deck. But if you are willing to spend a few extra minutes making the scooter as small as possible, the Valor goes a few steps further with collapsible wheels and handlebars. Oddly, while this scooter is the smallest folding model on our list, it is also the heaviest — so to take advantage of its ultracompact form, you’ll have to carry a few extra pounds. Recommended for ages 8 and up, the scooter has an adjustable T-bar that goes up to 36 inches and a weight limit of 220 pounds.
More Strategist-approved kids’ toys and accessories
Our experts
• Mary Couzin, founder and CEO of People of Play
• Kristin Ernest, assistant professor of pediatric sports medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital, the Woodlands
• Eli Gurock, CEO of the baby and kids retailer Magic Beans
• David Jacobson of Fit Kids
• Chris G. Koutures, a pediatric and sports-medicine specialist at ActiveKid in Anaheim, California
• Danielle Parde of Fat Brain Toys
• Lauren Ro, Strategist writer and mom of two
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor and mom of two
• Sylvana Ward Durrett of children’s luxury retailer Maisonette
• Carrie Wren of Two Wheeling Tots
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